Adaptations
Bird Beak Adaptations
Purpose
To model the function of various bird beak adaptations
by exploring how well different tools manipulate
various objects.
Process Skills
Observe, Predict, Collect data, Communicate,
Draw conclusions
Background
A bird beak (also called a bill) has to serve a number
of purposes, including drinking, eating, defending,
and grooming. Birds’ beaks have changed over time.
As birds have adapted to deal with changes in food
sources, food availability, and the environment, their
beaks have adapted to enable the bird to survive.
Beaks come in many different shapes and sizes. You
can often tell what kind of food a bird eats by looking
at its beak. Some beaks are strong to help birds crack
open seeds and nuts, or to bore into a tree. Some are
long and pointy to get nectar from flowers or to catch
fish. Others are like tweezers, enabling the bird to catch
insects in mid-air. Certain beaks have special features,
such as hooks for tearing meat or filters for getting
food out of the water. Each bird species has a beak
adapted to meet its own needs.
Materials
(per group)
q 2 copies of data sheet
q shallow pan
q water
q plastic wrap
q 4 different tools
Suggested tools:
pliers, tweezers, pair of
chopsticks, pair of plastic
knives, pair of plastic
forks, medicine dropper,
student scissors, clothespin
q 4 different objects
Suggested objects: pebble
or small stone, coin, paper
clip, 12 sunflower seeds
in shells, 12 cereal pieces
(toasted oat circles),
toothpicks, rubber eraser
© iStockphoto, James Stoddard
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What is the function of
each bird’s beak?
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Time – 1 hour
Grouping – Pairs or small groups
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Exploration
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations
observe how well each tool can scoop
each object out of the water. Scooping
means picking the object up from
beneath, without grabbing it. Update
your data sheets, and then pour out
the water.
6.Puncture test: This test only uses the
tools, not the four objects. Stretch
plastic wrap tightly over the shallow
pan. Try to puncture the plastic wrap
by gently pushing each tool down
against the wrap (see diagram). Do
not press too hard or use a stabbing
motion. Update your data sheets.
Procedure
1.Select the four tools you will test
and compare. Write the name of each
tool above each table on your two
data sheets.
2.Select four objects you will compare.
Be sure to select at least one object that
can be crushed, such as cereal or a
sunflower seed. List the same four
objects on each of the four tables.
3.Read through all the procedures below.
As a group, discuss your predictions
about which tool will perform best in
each test. Your teacher may ask you to
write your predictions or share them
with the class. Let each member of the
group try all the tests.
7.Crush test: Conduct tests to observe
how well each tool can crush each
object. Of course, not every object can
be crushed, so do not apply force that
can cause damage. Update your data
sheets.
4.Pick up test: Conduct tests to observe
how well each tool can pick up each
object. On your data sheets, briefly
describe how well the tool worked
at picking up each object.
8.Compare your results and draw
conclusions about what kinds of
beaks different birds might have. For
instance, what kind of beak might be
found on birds that eat small water
animals? What type of beak is designed
for eating seeds?
5.Scoop test: Fill a shallow pan halfway
with water. Place one object into the
water at a time. Conduct tests to
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Exploration
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations Data Sheet
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Directions: Describe how well each tool worked with each object in each test.
Collect Data
Picks up
object
Name of tool used: _________________
Scoops object
from water
Punctures
plastic wrap
Crushes
object
Object 1:
_________
Object 2:
_________
Object 3:
_________
Object 4:
_________
Collect Data
Picks up
object
Name of tool used: _________________
Scoops object
from water
Punctures
plastic wrap
Crushes
object
Object 1:
_________
Object 2:
_________
Object 3:
_________
Object 4:
_________
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Exploration
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations Data Sheet
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Directions: Describe how well each tool worked with each object in each test.
Collect Data
Picks up
object
Name of tool used: _________________
Scoops object
from water
Punctures
plastic wrap
Crushes
object
Object 1:
_________
Object 2:
_________
Object 3:
_________
Object 4:
_________
Collect Data
Picks up
object
Name of tool used: _________________
Scoops object
from water
Punctures
plastic wrap
Crushes
object
Object 1:
_________
Object 2:
_________
Object 3:
_________
Object 4:
_________
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Exploration
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations Questions
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Analyze Data
1. Which tool worked well for the most tests? Why do you think this was so?
2. Which tool worked well for the fewest tests? Why do you think this was so?
3. Which tool would be best for pecking a hole in a tree? Why?
4. Which tool would be best for catching a fish? Why?
5. Would you expect a fish-eating bird in Africa to have the same kind of beak as a
fish-eating bird in North America? Why or why not?
Draw Conclusions
What are some important characteristics of a successfully adapted bird beak?
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Adaptations
Bird Beak Adaptations
Teaching Tips
These process activities will help students understand that all living things adapt
to changes in their environments. This is true of humans, animals, and plants.
Students will also gain an appreciation for the vast diversity in the natural world.
Set-up and
procedures
ou may want students to reread the introduction to the nonfiction book
Y
Adaptations before starting this exploration. It explains why birds have
different beaks.
The data sheets do not ask students to record predictions, but you may
want to have groups discuss or write their predictions on the back of
one sheet. After testing, groups can report to the whole class how their
predictions compared with actual results.
safety
Materials
extensions and
variations
Model
safe techniques for using the tools, particularly for the puncture
and crush tests. Avoid objects that may send fragments flying when
crushed, such as walnuts.
ffer a wide variety of tools and objects. Students may be able to bring
O
many of these from home. Each group needs four tools and four objects.
Needle-nosed pliers are a good choice for modeling long, pointy beaks.
Clips intended for potato chip bags can represent broad, flat beaks.
Toothed hair clips can represent beaks that strain food from water.
Provide each group with two blank data sheets, for a total of four
data tables.
Each group may need 12 pieces of cereal and 12 sunflower seeds.
(Three tests require the objects, and each test is repeated for all four tools.)
Breadcrumbs or croutons are suitable alternatives.
I nquiry Science: Let students propose other tests using the tools and objects
available. For example, some birds have to pick seeds out of an area of
pebbles. Students can test how well each tool can pick an object out of
a group.
Inquiry Science: Students can conduct further investigations with different
tools and objects, or with those used by other groups.
Literature: Read with students the Aesop’s Fable The Crow and the Water
Jar, in which a clever crow figures out how to get water out of a jar by
picking up pebbles and dropping them into the jar, raising the water level.
Other fables and children’s stories involve bird beaks as well.
Art/Writing: Invite students to draw a fictional bird with a beak adapted
for a specific purpose. Then have them write a short story about it.
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EXPLORATION
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations
Variation:
Substitute a drinking cup for the shallow pan. Let students
explore whether any of the tools do not work because they are too
large for the cup or too short to reach the bottom. This may spark a
conversation about how beak size limits some birds’ activities.
Research: See Using the Internet in the Unit Guide for suggested websites
to extend the learning.
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EXPLORATION
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations Data Sheet
Answer key
Results will vary. For each task, students should briefly describe how well the tool worked. Some tasks
will not work at all with certain objects, such as crushing or puncturing a coin.
Exploration
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations Data Sheet
Name________________________________________ Date_____________
Directions: Describe how well each tool worked with each object in each test.
Collect Data
Picks up
object
Name of tool used: _______________
Scoops object
from water
Punctures
plastic wrap
Crushes
object
Object 1:
_________
Object 2:
_________
Object 3:
_________
Object 4:
_________
Collect Data
Picks up
object
Name of tool used: ________________
Scoops object
from water
Punctures
plastic wrap
Crushes
object
Object 1:
_________
Object 2:
_________
Object 3:
_________
Object 4:
_________
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EXPLORATION
Adaptations—Bird Beak Adaptations Questions
Answer key and explanations
Analyze Data
1.Which tool worked well for the most tests? Why do you think this was so?
Results will vary. Strong tools like pliers and clothespins may grab, crush, and puncture better
than tools that must be held together by the user, such as chopsticks or plastic knives.
2.Which tool worked well for the fewest tests? Why do you think this was so?
Results will vary. Tools that must be held together by the user and those without the ability to grab
may not work well for most tests. Like bird beaks, some tools are suitable for specific tasks — the
cutting ability of scissors, for example — but not suitable for many other uses.
3.Which tool would be best for pecking a hole in a tree? Why?
Pointy, strong tools would likely work best for pecking a hole in a tree. Tweezers may be the best tool
for pecking that students use in this exploration.
4.Which tool would be best for catching a fish? Why?
Answers will vary. Some fish-eating birds scoop fish from the water, others grab them, and others
skewer them.
5.Would you expect a fish-eating bird in Africa to have the same kind of beak as a fish-eating
bird in North America? Why or why not?
Despite living in different continents, the two bird species would probably have similar beaks, since
they have a similar diet. But differences in their environments or prey might lead to subtle refinements.
Draw Conclusions
What are some important characteristics of a successfully adapted bird beak?
It depends on the bird species. A well-adapted bird beak should allow the bird to capture its food,
drink water, and defend itself. In some cases, the beak should be long and pointy, and in other cases it
should be wide and flat. Some birds need sharp beaks for tearing meat, while others need to be able to
scoop food out of the water. In most cases, though, successfully adapted beaks should be able to clamp
tightly, whether to grab objects or to use the beak for pecking or puncturing. Through the process of
adaptation, each species has developed a beak to meet its own needs.
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